Variety of apple tree Bel-El

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive variety of apple tree named Bel-El, a sport mutation of the apple variety Elstar, uniquely characterized from its parent variety by the tree&#39;s distinctly-colored branches and the distinctly-colored petioles and nerves in its leaves, and by its less dense, bushy foliage than its parent variety, its fruit further characterizing the new variety from its parent by its solid red color, its longer, thinner brown/red stalk, and by its earlier ripening and picking dates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree (Malus domestica), named Bel-El.

The new apple variety was discovered in a cultivated Elstar apple orchard located at Rummen, Belgium as a sport mutation of the Elstar apple tree, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,450. It was noted that five of the trees in the orchard were unique and different in appearance from the entire block of Elstar trees in that they were bearing dark red apples in about mid-August while the rest of the Elstar orchard fruit was still green. These trees were propagated with the buds taken from one spontaneous mutated branch.

Observation of the five trees made from the mutated branch over a period of three weeks indicated that the condition of the fruit remained stable although its color gradually became blood red. Extended observation in Halen, Belgium has shown that the unique and distinguishing characteristics of the descendants from the new mutation and their fruit have remained consistent through their third generation descendants.

The major differences between the parent Elstar apple variety and the new Bel-El apple variety are itemized in the following comparision table.

                  TABLE A                                                          ______________________________________                                                   ELSTAR      BEL-EL                                                   ______________________________________                                         TREE                                                                           vigour      strong        medium-strong                                        figure      medium to large                                                                              medium                                               density     dense         less dense                                           color of branches                                                                          green-brown   has a red-brown                                                                upper side and a                                                               green-brown lower                                                              side                                                 predominance of                                                                            on spurs      on spurs                                             bearing                                                                        LEAF BLADE                                                                     leaf; petiole +                                                                            upper side: green                                                                            upper side: green                                    nerves      lower side: rose/                                                                            lower side: darker                                               red           purple/red                                           FLOWER                                                                         color of flower                                                                            red-purple(58/A)                                                                             greyed-purple                                                                  (187/D+C)                                            color of full bloom                                                                        red-purple(71/A+D)                                                                           greyed-purple                                                                  (186/C+A)                                            FRUIT                                                                          color intensity of                                                                         yellow/green with                                                                            a dark-red solid                                     the ripe fruit                                                                             bright-red slightly                                                                          flush over                                                       spotted-striped                                                                              practically 100%                                                 blush         of the surface of                                                              the skin                                             size        medium-large  medium-large                                                                   larger than Elstar                                   axial diameter                                                                             2-1/2 inch at 3-1/8                                                                          2-3/4 inch at 3-1/4                                              inch; mean = 2-3/4                                                                           inch; mean = 3 inch                                              inch                                                               transverse diameter                                                                        2-1/4 inch to 2-1/2                                                                          2-1/2 inch at 2-3/4                                              inch; mean = 2-3/8                                                                           inch; mean = 2-1/2 inch                              shape       globose-conical                                                                              global-conical                                                   conic to slightly                                                              oblong, broad,                                                                 rounded at base,                                                               side usually slightly                                                          unequal                                                            prominence of                                                                              weak          very weak                                            ribbing                                                                        aperture of eye                                                                            half open (some                                                                              mainly closed (some                                              closed)       half open)                                           stalk       shorter, thicker,                                                                            about 0.5 cm longer,                                             brown/green   thinner, red/brown                                   begin of coloring                                                                          end of August keeps its red color                                                            from the stage when                                                            the apple is small.                                                            The difference can                                                             be noticed over the                                                            whole period. At                                                               the end of August,                                                             the apple is already                                                           red.                                                 amount of over                                                                             medium        high-very high                                       color of skin                                                                  over color of skin                                                                         red           darker red                                           type of over color                                                                         mottled(with area)                                                                           solid flush; approx.                                 of skin     of solid flush)                                                                              20% of the fruit                                                               show some                                                                      spots, mottles                                                                 or stripes.                                          time of picking                                                                            between 15 and 30                                                                            between 30                                                       September     August and 15                                                                  September.                                           sugar level               sweeter,                                                                       earlier                                              FRUIT RIPENING                                                                 time of fruit                                                                              late          medium                                               ripening for                                                                   eating                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a close-up view showing the color and appearance of the fruit and leaves on a branch of the new apple variety Bel-El.

FIG. 2 illustrates the overall appearance and growth habit of the Bel El apple tree.

FIG. 3 is a closer view of a portion of the Bel-El apple tree shown in FIG. 2 showing the presence of some mottles, stripes or spots on approximately 20% of the fruit.

FIG. 4 is a view of the leaves and branches of the new apple tree, along with the seeds of its fruit.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating longitudinal and transverse sections taken through the fruit of the Bel-El apple variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new apple tree variety Bel-El as grown and observed in Halen, Belgium. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart of London in association with the Flower Council of Holland-Leiden (1986), except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: A sport mutation of the apple tree variety Elstar.

Propagation: Asexually by budding and grafting.

The Tree

Form: Medium size, slightly bushy and dense foliage.

Habit of growth: Generally rapid, very productive.

Vigor (based on height and spread): Medium strong.

Trunk: Medium stocky, smooth, medium strong.

Branches: Much branching, upright spreading.

Density of Head: Dense.

Predominance of bearing: On spurs.

Dormant one-year-old shoot: Medium thick, medium pubescence (on upper half of shoot) with a medium number of lenticels, a red-brown upper side and a green-brown underside.

Leaves:

(1) General pose.--Upward and outward.

(2) Size.--Large; oval; length--from 8.6 to 12. 4 cm., width--from 4.5 to 6.01 cm.

(3) Petiole.--Long; from 3.01 to 4.04 cm.

(4) Leaf blade.--Strong glossiness of upper side and a medium pubescence on underside. Dark green color.

(5) Margin.--Crenate, bicrenate, serrate and biserrate. During the ripening time of the fruit, the veins on the underside of the leaves are greyed-purple (group 185B).

Flowers:

(1) Time of begining of flowering.--Late.

(2) Finishing date of flower.--Approximately 12 May.

(3) Size.--Medium diameter flower with petals pressed into horizontal position.

(4) Color of flower bud.--Greyed-purple (187/D+C).

(5) Color in full bloom.--Greyed-purple (186/C+B).

(6) Color at end of bloom.--Greyed-purple (186/C+A).

The Fruit

Fruit:

Dates of first and last picking.--Approximately 30 August and 15 September, respectively.

Time of fruit ripening for eating.--Medium.

Maturity when described.--Ripe for eating.

Size.--Medium to large fruit.

Form.--Global--conical. Vertical diameter of approximately 6.56 cm, horizontal diameter of approximately 7.71 cm.

Symmetry in side view (predominant situation).--Asymmetric.

Ribbing.--Present. Prominence of ribbing-very weak.

Crowning at distal end.--Present. Degree: weak.

Aperture of eye.--Mainly closed, some half open.

Size of eye.--Medium.

Length of sepal (visual).--Long. Spacing of sepals at base: touching.

Depth of eye basin.--Medium. Width of eye basin: medium.

Stalk.--Color: brown/red. Thickness: medium-thick, approximately 3.15 mm. Length: Long, approximately 3.55 cm. Depth of stalk cavity: deep.

Width of stalk cavity.--Medium-broad.

Skin.--Relief of surface: bumpy, slightly rough.

Bloom of skin.--Absent.

Greasiness of skin.--Present. Cracking tendency of skin: absent.

Thickness of skin.--Medium. The skin finish: less shiny.

Ground color of skin.--Yellow group 10.A.

Over color of skin.--Red; darkest red (red group 46.A) and lightest red (red group 46.B). Amount of over color: high-very high. Type: solid flush. Approximately 20% of fruit exhibits some mottles, spots or stripes.

Lenticels.--Size: medium.

Amount of russet.--Low. Position of russet: around stalk cavity.

Flesh.--Browning of the flesh(one hour after being cut, with stainless steel knife): absent or very weak. Firmness of the flesh: medium/firm. (measurement with penetrometer: 6.53). Color of the flesh: Cream; yellow group 13D. Texture of the flesh: medium. Juiciness: juicy.

Seeds.--Length: 0.9 cm. Breadth: 0.5 cm. Form: acute. Color: brown (Greyed orange group. 165A).

Fruit in cross-section.--Distinctness of core-line (median through locules): medium. Aperture of locules: closed.

Tree-storing capacity.--Fruit remains in good condition on tree for approximately one month or so beyond picking date, with no apparent formation of water core when so stored.

Other characteristics:

Use.--Particularly well-suited as a dessert fruit; juices.

Keeping quality.--Natural conditions: Good; refrigerated conditions: Keeps very well up to seven months.

Resistance to insects and diseases.--No unusual susceptibility or resistance noted. 

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of apple tree named Bel-El as described and illustrated, and which is particularly characterized over its parent variety by the red solid flush and longer, thinner brown/red stalk of its fruit; by the earlier picking dates of its fruit; by the tree's distinctly-colored branches which have a red/brown upper side and a green/brown underside and leaves in which the petioles and nerves are green on the upper side and dark purple/red on the underside; and by its less dense, bushy foliage than its parent variety. 